Jermaine Dupri Sets The Record "Straight"

Jermaine Dupri abruptly left his position as President of Island Records Urban Music last week. No explanation was given for his departure and there was uncertainty as to whether he quit or was fired.

Well, now in an interview with Essence, Mr. Janet Jackson is setting the record straight about what really happened.

When asked blatantly why he left from Island Def Jam records, Dupri stated:

"It was a situation where it felt very stagnant to me. As a person who is used to putting out new records and continuing to do that, it just wasn't turning over as being that place to me where I should stick to it and see if it was going to turn around."

Sounds like a bullshit answer to us!

When asked what his biggest problem with the label was, Jermaine said:

"It wasn't giving me the open door that I thought it was going to. It wasn't aggressive enough and it was a big letdown for me. I thought I was going to a place that understood the times we were in as a music business and how aggressive we needed to be with putting out new projects and records. This is the reason I'm speaking out; not because I'm bitter, but because I owe it to my fans that see me every day on the Internet. I wanted to let them know because they've left a lot of comments on my YouTube saying, "JD, you talk about everything else; why aren't you talking about this [label] situation?"

Dupri also says we shouldn't believe everything Def Jam says, adding:

"Island [Def Jam Records] is going to say what makes them look good. They are not going to tell the truth. I haven't spoken to L.A. [Reid] in three months. I don't know if it's amicable [considering] that they claim they put me out. I feel like it's not amicable. Don't lie, be real about the situation."

Oh, and Jermaine also denies all the rumors that Janet is preggers, again, though he admits she might be in the future.

We like that Dupri is speaking his mind.

We hope L.A. Reid does the same real soon!

[Image via WENN.]